Friday, June 25, 2010

UPDATED 6/29: No word from Sandra, so I've drawn a new name - JOANNE! Same deal, Joanne, email me at ljodamron@gmail.com w/your email addy and I'll forward to Marie.

SANDRA! Sandra, please contact me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your email address so I can forward it to Marie! If I don't heaer from Sandra by Monday, I'll draw a new winner.

I hope everyone is set to have a great weekend! My weekend started early - took off work at noon and spent the afternoon with my best friend. We went to a nearby town for lunch and some shopping/antiquing. Had so much fun. I have massive amounts of housework to do tomorrow - not so much fun, but it will be satisfying to have it done.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

So what’s the very best part of being an author? The readers of course! I love my readers! I have been so lucky to meet so many great people through my books. Some of them have become close friends. One of my readers has even become a Beta reader, which means she reads for me before I submit to my agent or editor.

After Love at First Flight was released last summer, I heard from readers overseas who had bought L@FF or Line of Scrimmage. These were women who lived in France and Germany and numerous other non-English-speaking countries who were buying the books, even though they haven’t been translated into their languages. One of them told me she reads American romances to improve her English. I love that!

Laurie has told me more than once that Line of Scrimmage is one of her all-time favorite books. I told her yesterday that hearing that from a reader never, ever gets old. That something I wrote made such an impact that a reader still thinks about it almost two years later? How could that ever get old? With each new book comes more readers and new friends.

When we were growing up, most of us wouldn’t have dreamt of contacting a favorite author. It just wasn’t done the way it is now. We are easily accessible to our readers who can send us a quick e-mail or friend us on Facebook and keep in regular touch. This interaction has become an essential part of my writing routine, and I enjoy every email and every comment from readers. So please, keep them coming!Tell me what you think about contacting your favorite authors. Something you’ve done or something you’d never do? If not, why not? Tell your thoughts on the matter, and I’ll give a copy of Fatal Affair to one respondent. Thanks so much for having me back again. Laurie! About Fatal Affair:On the morning of the most important vote of Senator John O’Connor’s career he is late—again. His best friend and chief of staff, Nick Cappuano sets off to O'Connor’s apartment expecting to roust him from bed and hoping he is alone. But what Nick finds is that O’Connor, the handsome, amiable Senator from Virginia, has been brutally murdered, and Nick’s world comes crashing down around him. Complicating the disaster, the detective assigned to the case is none other than Sam Holland, Nick’s one-night stand from six years earlier, the woman who broke his heart and haunts his dreams. With six years worth of unfinished business hanging between them and more than a few scores to settle personally and professionally, Nick and Sam set out to find the senator's killer while trying—and failing—to resist the overwhelming attraction between them that seems to have only grown over the years.It soon becomes clear that the senator’s past holds secrets that not only led to his death but now endanger Nick and Sam as well. Working together to find a killer and to rediscover the love they thought they lost long ago, they must put the past behind them and build a future that offers a world of new opportunities for both of them—including an offer from the Virginia Democrats for Nick to finish the last year of John’s term.

And about me:Marie Force’s first romantic suspense, FATAL AFFAIR, will be out June 21, 2010 from Carina Press. Book 2 in the Fatal Series, FATAL JUSTICE, is coming soon from Carina. She is also the author of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE and LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT. Of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, Booklist said, “With its humor and endearing characters, Force’s charming novel will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, reaching far beyond sports fans.” Wild on Books said, “LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT by Marie Force is most definitely a keeper. It is an astounding book. I loved every single word!” A third contemporary, EVERYBODY LOVES A HERO, is due out Feb. 1, 2011. Since 1996, Marie has been the communications director for a national organization similar to the Romance Writers of America. She is a member of RWA’s New England, From the Heart and Published Author Special Interest Chapters. While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two children and a feisty dog named Brandy. Find her at http://www.mariesullivanforce.com/, on her blog at http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Force/248130827909 and on Twitter at twitter.com/MarieForce. Marie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at marie@marieforce.com.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Author Marie Force has a brand new release from Carina Press - FATAL AFFAIR - and while I have a copy on my Kindle, I (sadly) haven't yet found the time to read it. Given Marie's past works, I know it promises to be excellent! You'll find an excerpt on Marie's website. Equally exciting is learning that another book will soon follow, titled FATAL JUSTICE! Marie will be guesting here tomorrow and I hope you'll all stop back and show her a warm welcome. I know it's difficult for some to blog hop during the day, but we'll pop in and out through the evening. Marie is offering a download of FATAL AFFAIR to one lucky reader, so be sure to stop back! (thanks, Marie!) You may remember that I've chatted about Marie's earlier print release, LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, without a doubt one of my favorite romances, which was followed by LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT, also a very satisfying read. I'm thrilled to have Marie as a guest again!

On the morning of the most important vote of Senator John O’Connor’s career he is late—again. His best friend and chief of staff, Nick Cappuano sets off to O'Connor’s apartment expecting to roust him from bed and hoping he is alone. But what Nick finds is that O’Connor, the handsome, amiable Senator from Virginia, has been brutally murdered, and Nick’s world comes crashing down around him. Complicating the disaster, the detective assigned to the case is none other than Sam Holland, Nick’s one-night stand from six years earlier, the woman who broke his heart and haunts his dreams. With six years worth of unfinished business hanging between them and more than a few scores to settle personally and professionally, Nick and Sam set out to find the senator's killer while trying—and failing—to resist the overwhelming attraction between them that seems to have only grown over the years.It soon becomes clear that the Senator’s past holds secrets that not only led to his death but now endanger Nick and Sam as well. Working together to find a killer and to rediscover the love they thought they lost long ago, they must put the past behind them and build a future that offers a world of new opportunities for both of them—including an offer from the Virginia Democrats for Nick to finish the last year of John’s term.

Amazon has FATAL AFFAIR for download at a discounted price, so please go check it out. I 'm sure you all know that you can get Kindle for PC or iPod for free from Amazon, allowing you to download Kindle releases in a minute or two, and there are bunches of great books for free. I used the iPod app until I was fortunate enough to win a Kindle, and now I switch back and forth.Please stop back tomorrow!Laurie

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Melanie! Thanks to everyone who entered! I wish you could all come to Cincinnati next June! Melanie, please email me with your mailing info at ljodamron@gmail.com by this Friday the 18th. If I don't hear from Melanie on Friday, I'll pull another name.I hope everyone is having a great week!Laurie

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

This past weekend was spent with women who are so very special to me. I've known them online for several years, meeting them in person for the first time six years ago. Some I see a couple of times a year and others I only see at this event, once a year, yet all are so remarkably special. We sit down after being apart for that year and the conversation just picks right back up, as if we'd never left the table. I feel blessed to have them in my life. I'm also blessed to call Lori Foster and Dianne Castell my friends, but I don't have a single photo with either of them - I think because I see them other times during the year, it didn't enter my mind. Well, that and the fact that neither of them was standing still long enough for a picture!Unfortunately, I don't have any pics and ALL of them together but here's one of several of us. I have a feeling Stacy took the picture since she isn't in it!In this photo, top L to R, Kaleen, Niny and Lisa, bottom L to R, Barbara, moi and Judy.

I was fortunate enough to meet one of my favorite authors, HelenKay Dimon, at an RT booksigning in Pittsburgh a couple of years ago, but getting to see her again and actually sit down to visit was incredibly special. Now if I could get a couple of my other favorites, Alison Kent and Jill Shalvis, to make their way to Ohio I'd be over the moon! They feel like old friends, despite never meeting in person and my fingers and toes are crossed that they might be able to make it one of these days. Here's a pic of HelenKay and me. Just for fun I'm sharing a photo from that very first get together, six years ago. In this pic are (another) Barb, Stacy, Marcie (who we loved having at the "cool" table with us), Judy and me again. Most of us look pretty much the same, plus or minus a few pounds and hairstyles/colors! How fun to look back!I have more photos on my camera from the weekend, including some from the surprise bridal shower we had for one of the sweetest, most amazing women on the planet, Beth, but the dock that connects to my computer isn't working for some reason so I can't share them right now. Aggravation.

This year's "event" book was THE GIFT OF LOVE and all proceeds from book sales are going to the Conductive Learning Center of Greater Cincinnati. I have a copy for giveaway that's been autographed by all but two authors. Heidi Betts wasn't able to attend and I wasn't able to track down Gia Dawn for her signature. If you'd like your name in the draw for this book, simply leave a comment and you're in! I'll let this one run until Tuesday, June 15. Please send your friends over - if someone mentions your name in their comment, I'll enter your name an extra time for each friend.

Want a copy of THE GIFT OF LOVE? Buzz on over to Amazon and grab a copy. This is a beautiful book and would make an great gift for all of the romance readers in your life.

Thanks for checking it out! I hope that if you've ever had thoughts about coming to Cincinnati for this get together that you'll give it serious consideration for next June!

About Me

I've been married for 34 years (yes, Hub robbed the cradle), have two beautiful daughters, 23 and 28. We have a basset hound, Simon, and three cats, Sophie, Tony and Penny. I work full-time as a legal assistant. I enjoy reading, baking and walking. I write book reviews for the online review site, Romance Junkies.

PLEASE NOTE . . .

It is the responsibility of anyone who enters a contest on my blog to stop back and find out if they're a winner. I will not attempt to track you down. If I don't hear from a winner within the number of days specified when the winner is announced, I will draw a new name.